Step Up To Better Health

Start These Five Habits Now To Power Through The Holidays And Sail Into A Healthier 2019.

- Mary Anne Dunkin

Let’s face it: People who wait till the new year to start new health habits are often back to their old ways by mid-January. The solution? Start now – before the season of celebrations ramps up.

“Adopting [healthy habits] now is going to help you feel better and get through the holidays without setting you up for that ‘it’s January now and it’s time to do something,’ [mindset]” says psychologist Susan Bartlett, PhD, professor of medicine at McGill University in Montreal and an expert in chronic disease self-management.

Changes don’t have to be difficult or dramatic to make a difference, she adds. Research shows the following habits and activities can improve health and wellness. Begin working them into your routine, and it will be easier to make healthy choices during the holidays and throughout the year.

1 Eat healthfully.

“Eat, drink and be merry” is a recipe for unwanted pounds and health problems down the road. A 2017 study that examined the yearly weight patterns of 3,000 people in the U.S., Germany and Japan found small yet significant increases during holidays. In the U.S., weight gain began in October and peaked after Christmas.

Instead of resolving to lose holiday weight in the New Year, resolve not to gain it in the first place, advises Bartlett, who was not involved in the study. “It’s so much easier than trying to lose it,” she says. Even small amounts can add up over time, increasing stress on joints. And excess body fat and unhealthy food choices can fuel inflammation that can affect joints and raise the risks of other health problems.

START NOW

Fortunately, small positive changes in your eating habits also can add up. Try these simple ways to eat better and manage your weight – this holiday season and in the future.